For India, the African country remains the only place where they have not won a Test series. Even Sri Lanka, who have never ever won a Test match in India, have won a series in the Rainbow nation - 2-0 in 2019. The last drawn Test in SA in 2016 was against New Zealand, when less than 100 overs were possible. Never won a series here so that's a big opportunity in itself that gives us excitement, courage and encouragement to do our best. Captain Temba Bavuma, inform batter Tony de Zorzi and openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram are expected to pose India some headache.

Officials from over 20 African countries participated in a week-long e-government workshop in Moscow, aimed at enhancing digital skills among civil servants. Hosted under the e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Program for Africa, the ‘Winter Knowledge Sharing Week’ featured lectures, seminars, and workshops covering theoretical and technological aspects of e-governance. Participants explored topics like financing digital transformation, cybersecurity, and the role of artificial intelligence. The Russian e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Program aims to foster collaboration between Russian and African institutions in implementing e-governance solutions. Some Russian investors have already formed partnerships with African governments to support the digital transformation of public administration.

The King’s Christmas message has emphasised the importance of “universal” values shared between major religions, at a time of “increasingly tragic conflict around the world”. The King spoke of the universal values of respecting others in the “Abrahamic family of religions”, which includes Judaism, Islam and Christianity. If the replantable Christmas tree beside the King sent its own seasonal message, there was a strong environmental theme to the speech. And his Christmas message spoke of protecting those in need of help, whether strangers or one’s own family. The King praised the volunteers and those who cared for others as the “essential backbone of our society”.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged to fully implement the comprehensive presidential peace agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis in the state. In a statewide broadcast on Monday , the governor reaffirmed his belief that no price is too high for peace to prevail in the region. He said, “As a principal participant in the entire saga, I have taken some time to study the terms therein and have come to the conclusion that the peace pact is not as bad as it is being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.”He added that the peace pact, which has naturally elicited mixed reactions from people across the country, is not a death sentence but a way towards lasting peace and stability in the state. “Accordingly, I reaffirm my acceptance of the presidential peace proclamation and my commitment to implementing both the spirit and letters of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear state without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values. The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu for his intervention, highlighting that the gesture reflects his deep affection for the state.

The Christmas and New Year breaks are probably the best shot at having nice times during the holidays. All these are key events to enjoy the festive period. Besides shopping for gifts, clothes, and many more, decorating your home for the holidays should probably be at the top of your festive period checklist, right? Here, PUNCH Online highlights some selected festive season decoration ideas to transform your home from drab to fabulous:1. Having cozy corners in the house makes for the perfect spot to curl up in.

Fifty couples married Monday in a joint ceremony in the Afghan capital – a growing practice to reduce the astronomical cost of traditional weddings in the impoverished country. The couples were joined in matrimony in one of the dozens of glitzy wedding halls that punctuate Kabul, but the ceremony itself was somewhat austere. “A traditional wedding would have cost us at least 200,000 to 250,000 Afghanis ($2,800 to $3,600), but this time it will be between 10,000 and 15,000 Afghanis,” he said. – A thousand guests –Hundreds of male guests wrapped in traditional patu shawls attended the ceremony in a large, chilly hall, festooned with garlands. Larger, more pricey weddings in Afghanistan can bring together more than 1,000 guests and cost over $20,000.

Former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed optimism that the Supreme Court will do justice in the current Kano Governorship Election matter. He noted that his party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, is confident that the Supreme Court will ensure justice in the case. Kwankwaso made the remarks on Monday shortly after a prayer session held at his Miller Road residence in the Kano metropolis. The prayer session was organised by the state government to ensure peace prevails in the state as well as to pray for the victory of Yusuf as the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the Kano State Governorship election dispute. The former governor further applauded the NNPP legal team for doing a wonderful job, praying that the Supreme Court judges would be allowed to dispense justice without using the Federal might and other apparatus to intimidate them.

But, in terms of turnover , they too accounted for a mere 0.5% of total turnover or ₹7,450 crore. Their combined share as a percentage of total turnover was a mere 3.1%. But, at ₹11.06 trillion, they accounted for 74.6% of the total turnover of ₹14.82 trillion, the data showed. “The numbers indicate a growing presence of small, middle-class investors post the pandemic," said Alok Churiwala, managing director, Churiwala Securities. Sudhir Joshi, executive director, Khambatta Securities, said the smaller investments reflected the “lack of experience" of small investors who trade small quantities of shares via SIPs through mutual funds or brokerage houses.

The sixth edition of the Nigeria Fintech Week has come and gone but the memory continues to linger. According to Barrow, the African Development Bank strongly believes that a resilient, innovative and diversified Fintech sector is key to accelerating economic transformation in Africa. Continuing, he stated “In April this year, I had the honour to sign a grant agreement with Mr. Segun Aina, President of the Africa Fintech Network, for $525,000 in support of the “Africa Fintech Hub” through the ADFI. Upon completion in 2025, it is envisaged that at least 70 percent of Africa Fintech Network members will actively use and benefit from this digital One-Stop-Shop online platform for all things fintech in Africa. Working together, the innovation potential and co-create value-driven offerings in the fintech industries can be unleashed on the continent and in Nigeria in particular.

In the promising year of 2024, the nation’s 36 states, along with the Federal Capital Territory, collectively proposed a substantial budget of N15.91 trillion. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s earlier presentation of a N27.50 trillion budget in late November 2023, titled the Budget of Renewed Hope, is currently undergoing scrutiny and deliberation for final approval. Subsequently, each state’s governor presented their budgets to their respective state assemblies. A regional breakdown reveals that the Southwest led with N4.20 trillion, followed by South South: N3.43 trillion, South East: N2.29 trillion, North West: N2.50 trillion, North Central: N1.89tn, and North East: N1.60 trillion. Kogi presented a ₦258.28 billion budget, to be executed by the incoming governor as the current governor, Yahaya Bello, concludes his two terms in office in February 2024.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, has denied involvement in the alleged withdrawal of over $6 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. His denial is coming in response to the publication of the report of the Private Investigator into the affairs of the CBN, Mr. Jim Obazee. “Throughout my career in public service, I have always upheld the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct. “This is not just about me, it is about upholding the integrity of public service and safeguarding the reputation of those who have served this country with honour. “I trust that the Nigerian people will see through this orchestrated attack and recognise it for what it truly is; a desperate attempt to silence a voice of reason and integrity,” Boss Mustapha said.

An unidentified EMU played charged into the group and punched a South Alabama player in the back of the head. Another South Alabama player dragged the EMU player onto the field, sparking a free-for-all among members of both teams as smaller skirmishes also broke out. He apologized to the EMU community, the South Alabama team and its fans. Wetherbee said he had been in contact with South Alabama's athletic director and that Creighton had reached out to Jaguars coach Kane Wommack. South Alabama AD Joel Erdmann issued a statement Sunday saying he was disappointed in the postgame conflict, but was grateful that EMU “took ownership” of the confrontation and apologized.

The report accused Emefiele of working in concert with a minister in the Muhammadu Buhari government, CBN officials and his proxies. In one account in the United Kingdom, the CBN allegedly lodged £543.48 million. But Nigerians are not impressed, as past revelations of massive corruption have mostly failed to result in commensurate convictions, or full recovery of diverted public funds. In Nigeria, corruption thrives on elite conspiracy, the compromised judiciary, and absence of political will by presidents. The larceny at the CBN must not go unpunished and all public funds must be fully accounted for.

Nigeria lost about N289.6bn crude oil revenue in November 2023 following a plunge in the country’s oil output last month, when compared to what it pumped in the preceding month of October. Meanwhile, further analysis of the NUPRC report showed that in January, February, March, April and May 2023, Nigeria’s crude oil outputs (excluding condensates) were 39,266,420 million barrels, 36,182,712 million barrels, 39,268,847 million barrels, 30,131,770 million barrels and 36,869,280 million barrels respectively. For the months of June, July, August and September 2023, the country pumped 37,827,842 million barrels, 33,761,767 million barrels, 36,615,125 million barrels and 40,396,863 million barrels respectively. Lokpobiri had also said the country has the capacity to increase crude oil production to two million barrels per day. The PUNCH reported on Friday that the dispute over crude oil production quota between OPEC and a few of its members eventually made Angola to exit the global oil cartel on Thursday.

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted the assassination of a sitting president and the death of a governor. Primate Ayodele also predicted that cabals would attempt to take over President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele said: “Tinubu’s Government: I foresee the Cabals will want to take over the Tinubu government. Let us pray against coup in Africa or mounting pressure or an uprising that can lead to the removal of a sitting President. I foresee a sitting President will escape assassination.